Missed open enrollment? You still have health coverage options

BY ADAM CULLER

When it comes to obtaining health insurance for the coming year, open enrollment periods typically are the only time individuals can sign up for coverage.

While open enrollment periods vary for most businesses, the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance concluded Jan. 15.

If you missed you employer’s open enrollment period or the ACA enrollment deadline, there still are options to secure some form of health coverage for 2023.

Special enrollment periods

If you’ve experienced certain life events, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. These periods allow individuals to sign up for health insurance outside of conventional open enrollment periods.

According to Healthcare.gov, qualifying events for a special enrollment period include getting married or divorced; having a child; changing residences; losing health coverage due to the death of the primary policyholder; or losing a job or group coverage; losing Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage. These events generally will trigger a 60-day period in which a person can purchase health coverage and, in some cases, dental and vision insurance.

Employers who offer insurance to their employees are required to provide a special enrollment period of at least 30 days.

However, if you fail to sign up for coverage during a designated special enrollment period, you must wait until the next open enrollment period or explore additional options.

Short-term health insurance

Individuals who don’t qualify for a special enrollment period may purchase short-term health insurance plans to provide temporary coverage. Though these plans do not meet ACA requirements for minimum coverage, they will offer basic protection against catastrophic medical expenses.

Under a Virginia law that went into effect July 2021, enrollment in short-term plans now is limited to threemonth increments. If a plan is renewable, individuals are limited to six months of coverage under a shortterm plan. The new law also prohibits the sale of shortterm plans during the ACA open enrollment period.

These policies do not cover preexisting conditions, and coverage is not guaranteed for all applicants.

“Short-term health insurance policies won’t have the same provisions and coverage as plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act, but they do provide some financial protection if you missed open enrollment,” said Gina Gentilini, senior account executive for Virginia Farm Bureau’s Health Insurance Division.

Other year-round options

There is no open enrollment period for Medicaid or CHIP, and individuals who quality for coverage may enroll anytime. CHIP offers low-cost health and dental coverage to children in families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid.

To learn more about your coverage options, contact your county Farm Bureau office or call 800-229-7779.